ASSESSING THE ACCURACY OF PALEOHYDROLOGIC INDICATORS, HARPERS-FERRY, WEST-VIRGINIA

Gaging stations established in 1895 at Millville, West Virginia and in 1882 at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia record flows ranging from a maxi mum of 6,509 m(3)s(-1), to a minimum of 2 m(3)s(-1) Historical and bot anical indicators were used to extend the systematic flood record of t he Shenandoah River for a study reach approximately 7.5-km long. The l ong systematic record at the site provides a good opportunity to asses s the accuracy of these sources of paleoflood information. Habitation of the area by settlers of European descent began in 1733, and histori cal flood records extend from 1748. Qualitative historical records fro m different sources were compared to yield the most complete flood his tory. The correlation between the various sources was extremely high. Botanical flood evidence preserved as adventitious sprouts, tree scars , and ring anomalies were documented in 37 trees. A flood chronology e stablished from these data extended from 1896 to 1955. Botanical indic ators provided an accurate, although incomplete, flood chronology. The ability to determine accurate flood stages from paleohydrologic indic ators varied. Historical data yielded relatively accurate stages to wi thin 1-2 m; only minimum values of flood stage could be obtained from botanical indicators. These results illustrate some of the strengths a nd weaknesses of paleohydrologic investigations in the eastern United States.